When it comes to improving mental health and wellness, employers are uniquely suited to help. Adults spend most of their time working than performing any other activity. Of the 157 million working U.S. adults, roughly three in four employees (76%) indicate they have struggled with at least one issue that affected their mental health.
Poor mental health not only takes a toll on workplace wellbeing, but it also negatively impacts productivity. As a society, we are at a turning point with how we address and talk about mental health in our country. As Craig Kramer, a mental health awareness ambassador at Johnson & Johnson put it, "We want people to understand that mental illness is not a character flaw. People should bring casseroles to people with mental illness just like they do for people with cancer."
Mental health and wellness have become strategic imperatives for American businesses like Deloitte, Bank of America, and Starbucks. Last month, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, in collaboration with the President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End the National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS) Executive Order Task Force, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs launched Wellbeing in the Workplace, a collaborative effort to prioritize mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. As part of the initiative, organizations are encouraged to sign a pledge to prioritize mental health and emotional wellbeing in the workplace. It was a true honor to sign this commitment on behalf of the Chamber Foundation, an organization that understands the critical need for reducing stigma, changing culture, and prioritizing this work in the business community.
“Mental health and wellbeing are top strategic imperatives for American business, as represented by the broad coalition of companies and organizations who are working with the Chamber Foundation and the Department of Veterans Affairs to prioritize mental health in the workplace,” said Eric Eversole, vice president, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and president, Hiring Our Heroes. “Together, we can make a meaningful difference in our employees’ lives and strengthen our communities.”
The Prioritize Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing in the Workplace pledge not only works to overcome stigma associated with mental health challenges, but commits to providing employees with the services and resources needed to promote mental wellness.
Promoting emotional health in corporate America is a necessary step towards ending the stigma. Is your company interested in signing the pledge? To learn more and join this effort, please visit here or contact Elyse Cohen.
